Pharma Finland

Central nervous system, CNS

Research on central nervous system (CNS) diseases in Finland has resulted in an especially strong level of expertise in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Basic and clinical research on CNS is performed in particular in Helsinki, Turku, Kuopio and Tampere. Examples of the research done there include:

Research on nerve growth factors at the University of Helsinki and Hermo Pharma Ltd

Research on α-receptors in Alzheimer’s disease at Orion Corporation

Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease is a special focus area at the University of Tampere

Turku PET Centre has gained world-class expertise and know-how in PET imaging used in AD and PD research

One example of Finnish commercial success in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is entacapone, a globally marketed drug developed by Orion Corporation. Other examples of Finnish commercial products are nalmefene, developed by Biotie Therapies Corporation to treat alcohol dependence (cooperation with Lundbeck A/S), and Nexstim Oy’s Navigated Brain Stimulation imaging devices.